Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison 8.28.19

                      Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison 8.28.19

Here is an update from Dr. Katie Owens Murphy on the upcoming exhibit at UNA: “I wanted to give you a sense of the interactive exhibit I am building around the death row exhibit. Part of the exhibit is what’s called an On Cell tour using cell phone technology where people can scan QR codes on our posters that link to further content. One near Darrell’s poem, for example, will link to this audio recording of his reading. Other QRs link to PHADP’s website and Facebook page, info on the death penalty from DPIC and EJI, and newspaper articles, as well as audio from our interview.” This is certainly very exciting and we will keep you updated!

Journalist Lauren Gill who writes for The Appeal.org had another insightful article published last week. It features the case of Toforest Johnson who is on death row at Holman. “An Alabama Man On Death Row Says He Is Innocent. Will He Get A New Trial?” We appreciate Alabama’s lack of justice being kept in the lime light by the media and believe this can only help shed some beneficial light on our system.

Congratulations to our Advisory Board Member Dr. Katie Owens Murphy  who announced that UNA and Limestone Correctional Facility are becoming a training site for the international Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program Instructor Training Institute starting in Summer 2020! They are the first, and so far the only, host institution in the Deep South. No, this is not death penalty news but still news which makes us realize just how fortunate we are with our Advisory Board members.

The Board is in the process of collecting signatures at Holman of those choosing to sign on to the letter to Cardinal DiNardo requesting  a Pastoral Letter reminding the faithful of the official position of the Church regarding the Death Penalty to be read in every parish of every diocese in the US, if possible on the same date to draw attention to its importance.

Our latest edition of Wings of Hope will be in the mail to Esther this week and from there it will go to the printer.

Esther attended the Alabama State Conference of the N.A.A.C.P. quarterly meeting in Montgomery. As chair of the Death Penalty Moratorium Committee she was able to present an overview of our activities. She also handed out copies of our 30 year anniversary Wings of Hope newsletter.

We continue to thank anonymous donors who gave by going to our website and using the “donate” button and of course also those who gave directly. We thank all who believe in what we do and stand with us. You make a difference!

                                                                 Esther